“Gossip Girl” creator developing a remake of UK hit “Misfits”

If you go back through these virtual pages, you'll find that even when I get frustrated with the seemingly endless stream of remakes, adaptations, and sequels that dominate our TV and movie landscape, I try to be pretty even-handed when it comes to individual projects. Would I ever ask for a remake of seminal robot-adoption sitcom Small Wonder? No, because I haven't had a head injury. But if someone was working on one, even as I'd give a big sigh, I'd try to remember that what matters most is the end product. If one of these second-rounds turns out good, I'm willing to overlook its less than original origins.

But this is not one of those times! Because I just don't see how a U.S. remake of Misfits — the hilarious U.K. series that stands out as one of the few shows to get superpowers right — developed by Josh Schwartz, the man behind such projects as Gossip Girl and Hart of Dixie (ugh), is going to work. Via Vulture:

Our spies say Fake Empire, the Warner Bros. TV-based production company Schwartz runs with partner Stephanie Savage, has just finalized a deal for the rights to the show, which revolves around a group of working-class teens who find themselves endowed with superpowers following an electrical storm… Schwartz will team up with U.K. Misfits creator Howard Overman to write a U.S. translation. There's no network attached as of yet.

The good folks at Vulture see this as a good fit, noting Schwartz's history with teenage wit and underage drinking; I'm not so quick to sign on. Sure, Schwartz's shows don't shy away from portraying teenage rebellion and sexuality (of which there is a lot in Misfits), but even when his characters hit rock bottom, or when they're supposed to be gritty, they have a shiny sheen that never disappears. See: Ryan Atwood, the most soulful Abercrombie model ever to come out of the Chino juvenile-detention system. And the original U.K. characters are rough. They're childish, petulant, mean-spirited, and vulgar. (To start. And in an awesome way.) They get into messy, uncomfortable situations like stupid teenagers do, and never while wearing Gucci. Not even, like, J. Crew!

I will begrudgingly admit that it's a good sign to have the show's creator involved. And, as is my nature, I'll still check it out if the project ever gets to air. But I'm still wary. Let's not end on a down note, though. Instead, let's watch the first episode of the original series!